Doctor Who Fans Should Get Tennant Back After Xmas

The BBC says David Tennant is taking it very slowly following his back surgery, but should be able to resume filming on Doctor Who on time next month — barring complications.

Though Tennant’s injury and time under the knife knocked him out of his London run as Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company, current and outgoing Who executive producer Russell T. Davies said Tennant would return to filming Jan. 19. Davies said no rewrites were under way to take a load off the repaired back, but he assured fans that the entire cast and crew will go easy on The Doctor during his final year in the part.

Davies also let the following slip on Doctor Who’s upcoming series of 2009 specials: Each episode will feature its own special companion, and Davies will write Tennant’s last two episodes himself — including the regeneration story in which The Doctor becomes whomever Steven Moffat chooses.